Originally Posted by
ATOBTTR
I don't mean this in a mean way or to feel like I'm attacking you, but your last question shows a lack of understanding of aircraft and aircraft ops which many others on this and other forums have as well, which is why knee-jerk reactions in these sort of situations are not the way to go....
Again, I don't see this as much of a security issue, as easy as it seems to be to point that way. This wasn't someone who snuck over the airport fence and hopped into the plane and started it up. As long as there are humans in the loop in flying and prepping aircraft for flight, there is always this "risk" and any proposed fix may well have unintended consequences which are worse than the problem trying to be fixed. This was a mental health issue in someone who already had access to the cockpit (just like the Germanwings incident a few years ago). Hence why I think any time and funds used to develop any security fixes (which may not even prove that worthwhile anyway) could be better spent on mental health treatment and awareness.
Some things are rare. For example, a pilot who deliberately kills everybody (Egyptair 990, Germanwings, possibly Malaysia) or a bus driver determined to hit a truck head on. You cannot have air marshalls sitting next to every pilot and ground service agent as well as having air marshalls sit next to those air marshalls.
On the other hand, when President Bush (W) landed on an aircraft carrier, they didn't want to use a 2 seater F/A-18 because the navy pilot could become psycho. Therefore they used a small jet, a S-3 Viking, so that there would be 4 people, pilot and President in front, 2 secret service ready to jump the pilot should he become psycho. This story was in the news.